1. How will this project affect my property taxes?

The project will bring significant additional property tax revenue to the city of St Albert. The ultimate development of St Albert Village will create a 25 fold increase in property tax revenue as compared with the current utilization of the site. The studies have shown that the project will have a significant beneficial effect to the City of St Albert’s bottom line.

2. How will this project impact the demands on city services?

The site service study that was commissioned indicates that the infrastructure that will be required to support the development largely exists. Where upgrades are required, these are largely paid for by the development.

3. How will this project affect my property value?

“No discernable difference exists in the appreciation rate of properties located near higher-density development and those that are not. Some research even shows that higher-density development can increase property values,” Source: Higher Density Development, Myth and Fact, ULI. Given the improvement that this project is bringing to the Grandin area, it is likely that the development of St Albert Village will increase the value of properties in the adjacent neighbourhood.

4. What will happen to the current tenants on the site?

The scale of the St Albert Village development provides an opportunity to phase the development over time. As such, there exists the possibility to build out a portion of the site and transition some of the existing tenants into the new buildings prior to the subsequent demolition of some of the existing buildings. This phasing approach will help to minimize the disruption to many of the current tenants on the Grandin Mall site.

5. What is being done to address sustainability issues?

Consideration will be given to the sustainability throughout the development process through the use of leading edge building practices and green urban design concepts.

6. When will construction start? When will construction finish?

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid 2009. We anticipate the overall development to take 5-7 years to complete depending on a variety of factors including market conditions.

7. How many people will be living in the development when it is complete?

The site as it is currently planned will accommodate ~2000 residents upon completion.

8. How will local traffic be affected by the development?

An in depth traffic study was undertaken to assess the impact of the proposed development on the traffic patterns of the surrounding streets. The study indicated that there will be no significant negative impacts on the traffic patterns. Improvements will be made to the existing intersections and site access points to help offset the increase in vehicle traffic.

9. Will the development be attractive and accessible for pedestrians?

The development enhances walkability as street edge sidewalks will be significantly widened and tree-lined. Strong active retail frontages will be established along Sir Winston Churchill.
The extension of Tache St through the site will provide a strong central boulevard that will increase accessibility to the community and re-establish a connection between Grenadier Park and the Sturgeon River Valley.

10. How will the development transition into the existing neighborhood?

The site is designed to provide an appealing transition from the green edge of Grenadier park to the urban edge along Sir Winston Churchill. The edge fronting the park will consist of significant trees and greenery with three storey townhomes. The site transitions as you move north away from the park to 4 storey condominium buildings and then to podium and high-rise building forms along Sir Winston Churchill. Significant consideration has been given to provide an appealing and appropriate transition that is mindful of the surrounding neighbourhood.

11. Will the development reflect high quality architecture and design?

A focus on urban design cues, high quality architectural treatment and finishes, terraced building forms, lush landscaping, public art and active streetscapes will be used to define and create this unique development.

The team is comprised of world-class urban designers that will ensure that the high standards of quality merited by the site are achieved.